All Posts in Category: Health Tips

To celebrate the 2017 WORLD SIGHT DAY, Haven Opticals & Dental Clinic shall be charitably conducting a FREE & COMPREHENSIVE VISION SCREENING EXERCISE for all; with a special complementary focus on Professional Drivers, aimed at improving road safety for drivers, passengers and the populace at large.

Grab this golden opportunity and…….MAKE VISION COUNT!!!

DATE:

Monday, 2nd October, 2017 to Saturday, 14th October, 2017.

VENUE:

Haven Opticals & Dental Clinic,

Suite A9/A10, D’ Cherub Mall,

Opposite Alpha Beach Junction,

Lekki-Epe Expressway,

Lekki,

Lagos.

Book an appointment today by navigating to the top of our homepage and clicking on the ”MAKE AN APPOINTMENT” section on the menu icon. Kindly fill the Appointment Form correctly and submit by clicking the ”SUBMIT REQUEST” button. An appropriate appointment time shall be communicated to you promptly.

There are a couple of views many adhere to tenaciously with respect to spectacle wear, while some on the other hand seek clarifications to these myths. But what are these blurry sets of thesis, and how true are they?

The Disease Concept:

Are refractive errors communicable? The answer is No; they aren’t. Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism cannot be transmitted physically from person to person, as they are not diseases; neither do they have disease vectors. They are simply lapses in the way light rays bend to reach the eye for us to perceive images clearly. Such errors can be compensated for with appropriate corrective lenses.

Age Limitation:

No one is too young to have a refractive error. As such, no one is too young to wear glasses (corrective or protective), provided one has a visual system which is either less optimally functional or in need of ocular protective/preventive aid.

Are All Sunglasses dark shades?

Sunglasses aren’t just dark shades as some perceive, especially sunglasses with UV blocking agents. This set of sunglasses serve a whole lot of preventive functions to the eye, blocking off harmful Ultraviolet rays which cause cataracts and retinal degenerations that could lead to severe visual impairment or even total vision loss. Any pair of sunglasses void of this protective element should NEVER be worn, as such could cause more harm to the eye than good.

Change in Eye Configuration:

Spectacle wear doesn’t make one’s eye sink inwards or bulge out in any way really. Diverging lenses minify images while looking through them; and converging lenses on the other hand magnify images. So, what on-viewers see really (which makes them make this assumption) is a function of the lens’ optical property, not a change in the configuration of the eyes.

The Myth of Deterioration of Vision with Continual Spectacle Wear:

From about 40 years and above, a condition called Presbyopia sets in. This is observed as a difficulty in reading near prints with one’s distant spectacle correction in place, due to a gradual loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens in the eye. This is compensated for with the use of lens ‘‘Adds’’; and with increase in age, the ‘‘Adds’’ increase. Likewise, in high myopia, the length of the eyeball keeps increasing, requiring higher corrective lens powers. So, basically, it is the structures in the eyes that are changing. Lenses don’t cause any of these changes or deterioration in vision in any wise.

The Eye Exercise Myth:

Can regular eye exercises keep one from needing glasses? No! They can’t. While eye exercises can help improve the functionality of the eye muscles, vision relies on the shape of the eyes and the health of the eye tissues, none of which can be appreciably altered with eye exercises.

The Theory of Reading in Dim Illumination:

Reading in dim illumination cannot worsen one’s vision. One will only end up straining one’s eyes and at some point could even attain dark adaptation. However, after such dark adaptation over a long period of time, one must not expose oneself immediately to a very bright light source, as it could bring about bleaching of the retina. The use of sunglasses, Polaroid lenses or adaptive lenses with such protective functions is recommended after such dark adaptation.

The ‘Damaging Effect’ of Wearing Wrong Prescriptions:

When one wears a wrong prescription, one could have headaches, dizziness, blurred vision or even double vision (diplopia). But these presentations would eventually fade out on discontinuation of such wrong prescriptions and the administration of the correct/appropriate spectacle prescriptions. So, wrong prescriptions do not damage the eyes as is widely thought. They bring about discomforts, which of course can be eliminated with the proper corrections in place.

The Myth of Not Looking Good With Glasses:

Days are gone when eye wears had stereotypic presentations, lacking variety. In our present day, different brands and classes of frames and lenses exist to suit diverse persons, physiques, styles, occasions and purposes; and as such, you can find glasses that add class and sophistication to your look. You always can.

When you think about your favourite sights, what images do you see? The sunset from your porch, the radiant smiles of your children and grand children, the glimmer in your partner’s eyes as you dance together. Now, consider what it would be like if those crystal clear images were suddenly blurry, covered in a haze that dulls your world. Such is life with cataracts, a degenerative eye disease that clouds vision and may eventually lead to blindness.

Here are some recommendations for delaying and even preventing cataracts.

* Taste the rainbow. maintain a balanced diet, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C and E. consider incorporating these eye healthy foods and take multivitamins to ensure that you are always getting adequate nutrients, even if your diet gets a little off track.

* Maintain a healthy weight, diabetes and obesity can lead to cataracts. Reduce your risk by exercising regularly and eating healthy portions.

* Moderate your vices. Smoking and excessive alcohol can also contribute to the cause of cataracts. Limit your alcohol consumption and nix the cigarettes.

Get an eye examination every year. A comprehensive eye examination will not only help detect early signs of cataracts but will also check for age related macular degeneration, glaucoma and other vision problems. Schedule your appointment today with HAVEN OPTICALS LTD.

Don’t use other people’s eye drops or medications for your eyes as they may not be the ideal treatment for you even if your symptoms are similar to theirs. Always consult your eye doctor for your eye conditions.

Don’t read or strain your eyes in poor dim light. Always do your visual tasks under good and adequate illumination.

Don’t drive at night if your eyes can not see well or without your prescriptions to avoid endangering your life and those of other road users.

Don’t help someone by lending him/her your eye medications or glasses. Help them to get help instead from the eye doctor

Don’t allow your children, family members, friends and neighbors to play with sharp objects like broom, stick, pencil, knife etc. These can cause injuries that may lead to blindness.

Don’t be deceived, a simple eye operation (like cataract surgery) can restore sight to that blind child, parent, friend, or neighbor. Take an active role in preventing blindness around you and consult your eye doctor for guidance

Don’t lose hope until you have visited your eye specialist as there are low vision aids and magnifiers available for people with visual impairment or legal blindness that can enable them maximize their functional vision and still lead independent lives.

Don’t visit quacks. It is costlier on the long run and unbeneficial.

It is possible to enjoy good vision throughout your lifetime, so do the needful by doing an annual check with your eye doctor.

It goes without saying that the eye is an important part of the body and how we care for it determines the length of time both pairs will last us during our life time.

Here are a few simple tips to maintain good eye health: “THE DOS”

Do eat balanced diets and food high in antioxidants like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc and vitamins A, C, E. These nutrients help in reducing cataracts, macular degeneration and other age-related vision problems. Green vegetables, beans, nuts, green vegetables and fruits like carrots, oranges etc are good sources of these nutrients.

Do maintain a healthy lifestyle. Exercising helps the heart, maintains healthy weight reducing the risk of conditions like hypertension, obesity and diabetes which are leading causes of blindness. Smoking and excessive alcohol intake also predisposes you to vision problems.

Do apply only medications and use spectacles/contact lenses that are prescribed by your eye doctor.

Do protect your eye with safety eye wears such as protective goggles when handling potentially hazardous objects and engaging in certain sporting activities.

Do wash your hands always especially after using the toilet and direct your children to wash their hands also after playing because dangerous germs can be transferred to the eyes from the environment.

Do a rough eye test for yourself by closing one eye after the other and compare how the two eyes see as one eye may not be seeing well and so may go unnoticed.

Do apply only clean water as first Aid to your eyes when you feel a foreign body sensation and go to the nearest eye hospital for medical attention.

Do regular eyes check annually even if you do not have any complains. This is important to detect certain eye conditions (like glaucoma) that are hereditary and may even be asymptomatic. Also people that are 40 years and above should note that many eye problems such as presbyopia, cataract etc manifests around this time.

In our next edition, we shall consider the “DON’TS’’ in maintaining good eye health.

It is possible to enjoy good vision during your lifetime, so do the needful by doing an annual check with your eye doctor.